I bought a Gulftech "Glory" 170-210cm carbon boom that was manufactured by Autima, and I have to admit that it was a pretty good product that gave me 5 years of service before finally breaking just adjacent to the front end. For the money I spent ($400 USD), it was a darn good value. If you're a little short of funds to go full tilt for the Maui Sails carbon booms, the Autima manufactured carbon booms (marketed and badged under many different brand names) are worthy of consideration.

I have a Maui Sails Formula boom and love it. It's heavy, but bullet proof.

This boom is Phil McGain's baby - A few yeas ago at the US Open in Corpus Christi, Phil spent a good part to his time on the beach asking all the sailors what they liked and didn't like about their booms. I am sure that his research went well beyond this one event, but he simply took all the good points from existing booms plus his experience and incorporated them into the Maui Sails formula boom.

My boom was one of the first booms to be delivered in the US. Yes, the grip material is soft and it does tear up easily, but I am pretty careful with it and it still is in good shape after a couple of years. However, this problem was resolved according to Phil. If I choose, Maui Sails will ship me new grip material.

21st February 2008 01:08 PM

JJay

Check this out,,,,,,

Click on booms then scroll to bottom of the page for the Pro Monocoque Formula model.

It can say without a doubt, at least in my opinion (and a very strong one on this issue), that the Maui Sails carbon booms are a true benchmark in the market. However, I have to admit that I was a commited Gulftech boom person for many years (starting in 1992, and I'm still using one today), but the current Maximum Formula boom is something I'm not familiar with. Needless to say, I'm hearing over the years that many have upgraded Gulftech front ends to the Streamline front end design.

If you really check the details of the Maui Sails carbon booms, the facts speak for themselves. OK, the grip has recently been criticized as being a bit too soft, but from what I understand, the grip material had been modified more recently. Can't say whether the grip material on my boom is the older or newer material, we're really talking about an extremely minor detail. Grip can be easily retrofited.

Other than being a complete monoque boom design (an arm component matched with an extension/rear end component), the front end is unquestionably the best out there. We're not talking any aluminum stuff here that's hard to adjust between the use of different masts, but a design that offers a superior bearing surface area and also easily adjusts to any mast virtually immediately. Really, a better engineering design. No slippage, and the tension needed to guarantee that result is very minimal overall. With all the worry about formula mast integrity, a low tension connection is a notable feature.

Even for those out there that have other booms (HPL, Gulftech or NP), the simple retrofit of the Maui Sails front end produces an incredible outcome. I updated my 2004 HPL, and the result was simply outstanding. I always hated the HPL front end because of its terrible lack of firm contact, and particularly the flexibility it introduced, and it was so simple to upgrade to something infinitely better.

Do yourself a favor and consider the Maui Sails carbon booms. I'm not sponsered by Maui Sails, but just an enthusiastic customer that wants the best in booms. For me, booms have always been the weak link in my experience. I don't know what it is, but I can just destroy booms. I'm not a big guy by any means, but no component in windsurfing has been more susceptable to failure.

I'm confident that I'm on the prime path. Did you know that boogie was the principle designer of the Maui Sail carbon booms?

21st February 2008 09:28 AM

Unregistered

I bought a maui sails 230 -290 carbon boom about 3 months ago. it is the strongest boom I have seen. the front end is easy to use although not as stiff (plastic rather than carbon) as the pryde X9 front end (which I have also). It has the wide back end which the pryde does not. seems like many pryde guys adding custom wide back ends after purchase.

The pryde is lighter, the Maui is quite heavy due to it's heavy duty build.

I have seen a Maui with grip problems but mine & another bought at the same time are, so far, fine.

I love the Maui, use it for 11m & Pryde for 10m.

21st February 2008 08:21 AM

Brett Morris

Not sure if they are the best, but there seems to be a lot of Pro's who choose to use them instead of their own brands.... Neil Pryde X9....cheers

21st February 2008 04:05 AM

Unregistered

Best formula boom nowedays

Dear All

I am going to spend my monthly salary for a brand new formula boom and would welcome any valuable feedback from you. Used to break Fiberspar and NP booms in the past and for sure, only looking for high performance carbon boom that last for ever...

I have been following many different forums and so far Maui Sails Carbon, Gulftech Maximum and finally NP X9 are on the top of my list. However there are some negative threads about grip durability, overall stifness, to much slipping on the mast, front end mast connection, efficiency of adjustable outhaul kits...